Ezekiel 43:13

13 Forsooth these be the measures of the altar, in a veriest cubit, that had a cubit and a span; in the bosom thereof was a cubit in length, and a cubit in breadth; and the end thereof till to the brink, and one span in compass; also this was the ditch of the altar. (And these be the measurements of the altar, in a true cubit, that is, a cubit and a span; its bottom, or its base, was a cubit in height, and a cubit in breadth, or projecting out; and all around its outside edge was a ditch, one span deep; this was the altar's ditch, or its gutter.)

Ezekiel 43:13 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 43:13

And these are the measures of the altar after the cubits
Of the altar of burnt offering, which though measured before, the dimensions were not given till now; see ( Ezekiel 40:47 ) , this altar was a type of Christ, ( Hebrews 13:10 ) with respect to his deity, which is greater than the sacrifice of his human nature, the support of it, which sanctified it, and gave virtue and efficacy to it, and rendered it acceptable to God, ( Matthew 23:19 ) and the measures of it are said to be after the cubits used in the measuring of places and things belonging to this house, described; and what these were appears by what follows: the cubit is a cubit and an hand breadth;
not the common cubit, but what was larger than that by a hand breadth, or three inches: even the bottom shall be a cubit, and the breadth a cubit;
or, "the bosom" ^F20; that is, the foundation of the altar, as the Targum and Jarchi; the basis, foot, or settle of it; this was a cubit high, and a cubit broad: and the border thereof by the edge thereof round about shall be a span;
the edge or "lip" ^F21, of this bottom or settle, was a cubit broad, for the priests to stand and go round the altar, and to this there was a border of a span, or half a cubit, to prevent their slipping; or else to keep the blood, poured at the foot of the altar, from running upon the pavement: and this shall be the higher place of the altar;
or the projection or jetting of it out beyond others, which was further than any other part; otherwise it was the lower part of the altar.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F20 (qyx) "sinus", Montanus; "gremium", Munster, Cocceius, Starckius. Ben Melech interprets it the middle of the altar.
F21 (htpv) "labium ejus", Pagninus, Montanus.

Ezekiel 43:13 In-Context

11 and be they ashamed of all things which they did. Thou shalt show to them, and thou shalt write before the eyes of them the figure of the house, and of the building thereof; the out-goings, and the enterings, and all the describings thereof, and all the commandments thereof, and all the order thereof, and all the laws thereof; that they keep all the describings thereof, and commandments thereof, and do those. (And if they be ashamed of all the things which they have done, then thou shalt show them, and thou shalt draw before their eyes the plan for this Temple, and for its building; the goings out, or the exits, and the enterings, or the entrances, and all its describings, and all its rules and regulations, and all its order, and all its laws; so that they follow all of its describings, and its rules and regulations, and do them.)

12 This is the law of the house (of the Lord), in the highness of the hill; all the coasts thereof in compass is the holy of holy things; therefore this is the law of the house (of the Lord). (This is the law of the House of the Lord, on the highness of the hill; all the area surrounding it is most holy; and so this is the law of the Temple.)

13 Forsooth these be the measures of the altar, in a veriest cubit, that had a cubit and a span; in the bosom thereof was a cubit in length, and a cubit in breadth; and the end thereof till to the brink, and one span in compass; also this was the ditch of the altar. (And these be the measurements of the altar, in a true cubit, that is, a cubit and a span; its bottom, or its base, was a cubit in height, and a cubit in breadth, or projecting out; and all around its outside edge was a ditch, one span deep; this was the altar's ditch, or its gutter.)

14 And from the bosom of the earth till to the last height were two cubits, and the breadth of one cubit; and from the less height (of the pedestal), till to the greater height (of the pedestal), were four cubits, and the breadth was of one cubit; (And from the top of the base on the ground, unto the top of the second base, was two cubits, set-in one cubit from the edge; and from the top of the second base, unto the top of the pedestal, was four cubits, set-in one cubit from the edge;)

15 forsooth that ariel, that is, the higher part of the altar, was of four cubits; and from the altar till to above were four horns. (and the altar was four cubits high; and at the corners all around the altar were four horns, each horn one cubit high.)